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Book Review By John Malzone
The Broken Sword: A Novel of the American War for Independence at Sea by Charles White

In the early autumn of 1775, the Virginia Tidewater was a turbulent and chaotic territory. Loyalties were very far from being decided. Many Virginians still entertained hopes for a peaceful reconciliation with King George III. Jack Cunningham is a man marked by these deeply divided loyalties.
This historical novel is set in the beginning of the American Revolution and follows Jack Cunningham, a sailor, through the bloody years of the Revolution as he struggles to choose between his loyalty to a dying empire and his enthusiasm for a promising, but troubled, new nation. First serving in Lord Dunmore's Tory fleet, Jack finds hires his ship out to the struggling English. However, as the conflict in the Virginia Tidewater builds, Jack's loyalties waver. He must fight in ship to ship action, defeat a band of rebel frontiersmen, brave the forces of a hurricane, and avenge a murder before the question of ultimate loyalty can be answered.
Combat, both at sea and ashore, as well as cloak and dagger espionage in the colonial town of Norfolk, Virginia, will keep readers, especially armchair sailors, on the edge of their seat.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 1600-1899 -
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
War/Revolt/Disaster on civilians Yes
Conflict:

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Nationality

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status:
Eccentric/Smart/Dumb: Yes
Eccentric:
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 8 ()
United States Yes
The US: - Southeast
Ice Caps/Sea? Yes
Where? - Ocean
Water? Yes
Water: - warship - sail boat
Misc setting

Writing Style
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - actual description of hetero sex
Weird Victorian/Shakespearean English? Yes
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
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